Stereotype-block



No. 748,596. PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904. c. N. FIELD.-

STEREOTYPE BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED 114B. 16, 1903.

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"UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

CHARLES N. FIELD, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

STEREOTYPE-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. teases, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed March 16, 190 3.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. FIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented a Stereotype- Block, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to facilitate, expedite, and cheapen the adjusting of backs to plates for stereotyping purposes This I accomplish by casting the back directly to the plate in such a manner that sufficient cohesion is obtained between the back and plate to allow impressions to be taken on the matrix from the plate while the back and plate are not so firmly united but that they may be readily pried apart with the fingernail or the blade of a knife, thus allowing the plate to be preserved for further use and the back to be remelted for other purposes, as desired. This process does away with rivets, screws, and the use of flange-beads sliding into grooves now employed in the methods of attaching backs to plates for stereotyping purposes.

From the drawings, Figure 1 shows the plate with the core a fitted in. Fig. 2 shows the base after the core is driven out. Figs. 3 and 4 show the manner in which plateand base are adjusted.

My process of adjusting back and plate-is as follows: Two or more slots are cut or holes are sunk partly through the back of the plate, so that the angle formed by one slot or hole with any line of the back of the plate differs from the angle formed by the other slot or hole with the same line of the back. On this back of the plate a thin paste, composed of one part oxid of zinc and two parts whiting mixed with water, is applied to prevent the molten metal from adhering to the plate, and this paste is allowedto dry. The plate thus prepared is placed in a castingbox and the metal poured thereon. When cool, the scrap end of the back thus cast is cut off, and the plate thus attached to the back is ready for the form, the plate being firmly held from sliding, yet being easily detached from the back when desired. These backs can be corrugated by using corrugating-rods in a box made for that purpose. Where it is desired to make a back for a Serial No. 148,088. (No model.)

plate which has been cut or mortised out for any purpose, (as frequently occurs in plates made for use in newspaper-oflices,) a piece of wood type-high is fitted in the hole or mortise in the plate, and the. back is then cast upon the plate in the manner above described, after which the wooden core is driven out, leaving a perfect mortise through both back and plate. Half-tone plates may be thus mounted not only type-high, but more than type-high, if desired.

This process has the following advantages: First, plates are mounted quicker; second, plates dry quicker; third, there is a saving of metal in stock; fourth, there is a saving of room in filing away cuts; fifth, no nails are used and there is no chance of jamming plates sixth, a saw, casting-box, wide-bladed knife, and small brush are all the implements required.

I am aware that a patent was issued to Eberhard, No. 241,128, May 10, 1881, for astereotype-block made by casting the plate upon the back in such a manner that longitudinal, lateral, and vertical displacement is prevented by flanges of the plate setting into grooves of the sides of the back running in reverse directions, thus forming a block in which back and plate are not detachable. In my block the grooves are cut in the back of the plate and the back is cast upon the plate instead of the plates being cast upon the back, as in Eberhards invention. In my invention also the beads cast in the back filling the slots of the back of the plate are to prevent longitudinal and lateral displacement alone, vertical displacement being prevented by the cohesion or suction between the back and plate and Without the use of flanges, as in Eberhards invention, or screws and nails, such as are employed in attaching backs to plates in the methods now in common use. I thus secure a stereotype-block in which back and plate are as firmly attached for stereotyping purposes, as by flanges, screws, or nails, and which has the additional advantage over the other methods referred to in that plate and back may be attached or detached at pleasure.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The process of mounting plates on solid,

corrugated, or mortised metal backs for stereotyping purposes, so that plate and back are readily attachable and detachable, by cutting perpendicularly two or more non-parallel slots in the back of the plate, then applying a thin paste composed of one part of oxid of zinc and two parts whiting, mixed with water, to the back of the plate, and allowing the paste to dry, after which the plate is placed in a casting-box and the metal back is cast directly upon it, then allowed to cool, and trimmed for use.

2. The stereotype-block with plate detachable from the base consisting of (a) a stereotype-plate with two or more non-parallel slots, sunk perpendicularly in the back thereof, (b) a metal base (made by casting it upon the back of the stereotype-plate) with ridges or beads projecting from its interior surface corresponding to the slots in the back or interior surface of the stereotype-plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' CHARLES N. FIELD.

Witnesses:

EDWARD B. REILEY, Jr., ULYssEs G. CHURCH. 

